In a nutshell

History

-100BC to -600BC :

Celts tribes inhabited the region and left several footprints behind them. Some sites such as Titelberg, counting several dwellings and religious sites; the place that was also a trade center and important passage at the time

-100BC to 5th Century:

Romans mastered the region for approximately 6 centuries. Luxembourg counted several roman cities as located on their trade ways (from France to actual Sarre in Germany)

963:

Ardennes count Sigefroi bought the fort « Lucilinburhuc” as an exchange with Saint-Maximin de Trèves Abbey and made it his headquarters

1364:

with the final acquisition of Chiny County, Luxembourg Duke properties reach their maximal extent (10.000km²)

1443:

Philippe Le Bon, Duke of Burgundy, conquered the city of Luxembourg. Luxembourg Duchy enters in the properties of Netherlands, marking the beginning of 4 centuries of foreign domination

1684:

After a siege led by Vauban, Louis XIV troops took the city and the fortress of Luxembourg. Major renovation started afterwards

1815: Vienna Congress. Creation of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg that is given as personal union to Guillaume I, king of Netherlands. Entered in the German confederation, Luxembourg became a federal fortress and hosts a garrison from Prussia

1839: London Treaty. Luxembourg is shared into two parts, le West side goes to Belgium, when the East side remains Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Luxembourg got his current georgraphical borders at that time. (2.586km²)

1867: Treaty of London. Grand Duchy obtained the status of Permanently Neutral and Disarmed State. The garrison from Prussia left the fortress, which is dismantled

1944: Luxembourg City is freed by the American on the 10th of September

Luxembourg City is assigned as temporary seat for the first European community

1957: Luxembourg signed, with Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Germany and France, Rome treaties, creating the European Economic Community (EEC) and the E3uropean Atomic Energy Community (Euratom)

1992: Edimburg European Summit confirms Luxembourg city as headquarters for the Community Institutions together with Brussels and Strasbourg.

Politics

The politics of Luxembourg takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister of Luxembourg is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is under the constitution of 1868, as amended, exercised by the government, by the Grand Duke and the Council of Government, which consists of a prime minister and several other ministers. Usually the prime minister is the leader of the political party or coalition of parties having the most seats in parliament.

Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Legislative power is vested in the Chamber of Deputies, elected directly to five-year terms.

Luxembourg law is a composite of local practice, legal tradition, and French, Belgian, and German systems. The apex of the judicial system is the Superior Court of Justice, whose judges are appointed by the Grand Duke for life. The same goes for the Administrative Court.

The Grand Duke and his family

Economy

The economy of Luxembourg is largely dependent on the banking, steel, and industrial sectors. Luxembourgers enjoy the second highest per capita gross domestic product in the world (CIA 2007 est.), behind Qatar. Luxembourg is seen as a diversified industrialized nation, contrasting the oil boom in Qatar, the major monetary source of that nation.

Although Luxembourg in tourist literature is aptly called the “Green Heart of Europe”, its pastoral land coexists with a highly industrialized and export-intensive economy. Luxembourg enjoys a degree of economic prosperity almost unique among industrialized democracies.

Architecture

The architecture of Luxembourg probably extends back to the Treveri, a Celtic tribe who prospered in the 1st century BC. A few ruins remain from the Roman occupation but the most significant contributions over the centuries have been the country’s castles and churches.

Today there is a veritable architectural boom as Luxembourg’s economic prosperity provides a basis for developments in the financial, EU and cultural sectors with a number of world-class buildings. All along the city you can find a great mix of modern architecture and urbanism combined with traditional elements and even former buildings dated from the Romans and other civilizations who dominate Luxembourg for several centuries.

Belval BIL Terres Rouges

Gare Belval Universite Luxembourg Horizon building

Incubateur d’entreprises – Esch Belval Lalux

Pavillon Madeleine Château d’Urspelt

Baulucken

Geography

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in western Europe. Ir is bordered by Belgium (148km), Germany (138km) and France (73km).

With an area of 2586 square km, the country is clearly divided into two defined regions:

– The “Eisléck” or ‘Oesling’ in the north, which is part of the Ardennes, on the western rim of the Eifel, and covers one third of the territory. It is a wooded country of great scenic beauty. Highest point: 555 meters (1823 feet).

– The ‘Good country’ in the centre and the South, covering the remainder of the territory, is mainly rolling farmland and woods. Average height: 270 meters (900 feet). Culminating point 426 meters (1400 feet). It is bordered in the east by the wine producing valley of the Moselle, and in the extreme South West by a narrow strip of red earth which forms the Luxembourg iron-ore basin.